However, they were hanging on for grim death at the end as the visitors went for broke and it cannot be denied that the campaign has been a real disappointment so far.

Levein remains angry with the late penalty call that saw the Czech Republic snatch a 2-2 draw at the weekend and is unhappy that there has been some public criticism at the way things have worked out.

The Scots are likely to need at least four points from next month’s trips to Liechtenstein and Spain to have any chance of making the finals.

But Levein insists everyone has to look at the longer term and the plans he has been putting in place with the likes of new performance director Mark Wotte.

Scotland 1 -- Lithuania 0

He said: “We will do our best in the last two matches to get six points.

“I would rather be in a better position, but we had done everything we needed to do on Saturday against the Czech Republic and it was taken out of our hands.

“I am still angry about that. The frustration is that it is not in our own hands any longer.

“There has been a reaction from some people who seem determined to derail anything positive coming out of the camp.

“If you talk to me, the backroom staff and the players, everyone believes in what we are trying to do and I ask you to back us.

“We have young lads in the team and we are trying to play a different style – passing the ball and being entertaining.

“It frustrates me that we are either up high or down low. There is no middle ground.

“There was a furore over what I, the players and the SFA are trying to do after one game in which I thought we played reasonably well.

“I don’t understand it.

“We are only a year into what I consider to be a relatively long-term project.

“The people within the SFA know what we are doing and we will provide the information if anyone asks. I will be judged on results, but there is a plan here. It is not haphazard and about hoping for the best.

“One journalist asked our chief executive if I was getting the vote of confidence and that frustrates me.

“I ask for patience. Let us get on with it.

“What we are doing will eventually work.

“We are trying to improve the standard of players coming out of Scotland and we are intent on working with the clubs to develop top-quality players.

“I do believe we are getting better and we need to have some kind of sustainable success. That requires work.”

Thanks to injury and suspension, Levein handed Barry Bannan, Don Cowie and David Goodwillie their first starts in dark blue and was happy with their contribution.

He said: “Bannan catches the eye with his different style of football and we love the little guy, don’t we?

“We are always looking for heroes and I would stress he is still trying to make his way in the game.

“He doesn’t play every week for his club, but he has shown he has a value and has qualities in his football that we would love a lot of our kids to have as well.

“He will excite people. Technically, he is a very good player and he excites the fans.

“He was excellent as was Don, but the lone striker role is an experienced man’s job and David will learn a hell of a lot.

“I thought he did some really good things.”

Darren Fletcher saw a first-half penalty saved, but Levein has praised the Manchester United star for playing two full games after returning from a mystery virus.

He said: “It is football. Penalties get missed and it was just the first half.

“If you miss in the last seconds of the game, it hurts more.

“It won’t be the first or last he’ll miss.

“If we are to talk about Darren, I would rather talk about his performances.

“He was immense tonight and on Saturday.

“After being out for so long, playing 90 minutes twice shows you the mark of the man and he’s a delight to work with.